Local Mars viewing parties set

NORTH COUNTY —— Amateur astronomers interested in viewing a
brilliant red Mars are expected to congregate at multiple locations
in North County over the next week.

Mars will not be as close to the Earth as it is now —— 43
million miles away —— until 2018. In August 2003, Mars came even
closer to the Earth, but this year it is higher in the sky, making
for better viewing in the Northern Hemisphere.

MiraCosta College has a star party scheduled from 8 to 10 p.m.
this evening on the baseball field at its Oceanside campus. Another
viewing party is scheduled at Oceanside High School from 7 to 9
p.m. Sunday on the roof of the Science Building.